Metallic casket



(No Model.) I

E! N. LUPFER & 0.11. HISBR.

, METALLIC GASKET.

5O8l43Z! Patented Nov. 14, 1893 A TTOHNE Y6 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR N. LUPFER AND'cHARLEs- HISER, or SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

,MLETAILVLIC :CA'SKVE-T.

sPEcIFIcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,432, dated November 14,1893.

Application filed February 11, 1893. Serial No. 461.94Q. (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDGAR N. LUPFER and CHARLES H. HISER, citizens of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Me,- tallic Caskets, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in metallic caskets, and it especially relates tothat class of caskets which are intended to be placed inside of a wooden casing or casket, though the construction may be applied equally well to other forms of caskets.

The object of our invention is to simplify the construction of caskets of this kind and so arrange the respective parts that they may be joined together to produce a strong construction and at the same time an attractive appearance.

A further object of our invention is to provide a construction by which caskets of different sizes may be easily produced and with but few joints. We attain these objects by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is-aperspective view of a casket embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section and Fig. 3a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4 is. a view in perspective, showing the parts from which the top is constructed, the partsin this view being dis connected. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing themethod of producing the joints. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the fastening device, showing the means of securing the lid to the-body.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the said drawings A, represents the body of the casket, which is formed of sheet metal with a heavier metallic frame piece or plate (1, extending around the top of the same; the sheet metal being folded over the plate or frame piece a, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, so as to completelyincase the same. Immediately under this plate or frame piece a, is a wooden block b, which lies within the sheet metal body and to which the lining of the casket is attached. The top or cover B, is adapted to rest on the horizontal portion of the body A, formed by the plate a, a packing ring or gasket C, of rubber or other suitable packing material, being placed between the respective parts to secure the hermetic sealing of the casket.

It is desirable that the top or cover B, pre sent an oval appearance and be made with but few joints for strength, appearance and in order that the casket may be perfectly air tight when completed. The top is usually provided with a glass plate, and the casket which we have represented is so provided,

though this is not used in all cases and may be dispensed with. In carrying out this feature of our invention we construct the respective ends of thecover B, of a single piece of metal, as shown at d d; these end pieces being struck up from the flat sheet by suitable dies so as to form a horizontal flange e, and a raised oval portion e. These end pieces d if, are preferably struck up from the same die and are exactly the same, providing a glass is not used. If a glass is to be used, then the head piece is made slightly higher than the foot piece (1', and a portion of the raised portion e, is cut out, leaving simply a narrow flange e as shown, on which the lead frame for the glass is adapted to rest. The end piece (1', is further provided with a small head 6 extending across the raised and oval portion from one side of the frame e, to the other, and with a similar head ed, in the up-iv per raised portion e, and of a configuration substantially the same as that of the outlines of the horizontal flange e; this latter head 6 being adapted to serve as a guide for cutting away the metal for the end piece d, when a;

glass is to be used, so as to form a narrow flange e The other portions of the cover consist of the side rails f, f, and the panels g, g, each of which parts is provided with raised or beaded edges h. In fofming the coverthe L beaded edges of the respective parts are placed overlapping, as illustrated in Fig. 5, after which they are soldered together on the under side, so that the joint will be concealed;

the joint between the respective panels and the side rails being adapted to form a continuation of the head e of the end piece d, as shown in Fig. 1. When a glass is used an incision is made at f, in the respective side rails f, and a cross piece j, of angle iron secured firmly at each end to the respective side rails to form the support for the glass frame; the panels being butted up against the said cross piece and soldered securely thereto; that portion of the side rails f, which extends from the glass toward the foot being curved inwardly slightly to form with the panels an oval top, while the glass frame remains substantially horizontal and of a height uniform with the head piece d. When the glass is not used the bar j, is dispensed with and the panels are extended from one end piece to the other, with the beaded ends of said panels engaging with similarbeaded portions of the end pieces'. It should be noted that the respective side rails f, are provided with a horizontal flange corresponding to the flange e, of the end pieces, thus forming a continuous flange when the parts are joined together. For strengthening these respective parts this horizontal flange is made of a considerable width, and after the coveris formed by joining the parts together a horizontal metallic plate or frame 70, is placed under said flange and the metal of the flange folded around the same, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, thus forming a stiff edge for said cover, adapted to rest on the gasket 0, and be secured thereto by the clamps D, which are placed at suitable intervals around the top of the body A. In order to form anarrow hearing surface for the clamps D, and to prevent mar-ring the top of the flange 'e, of the cover B, we place on top of the plate It, a small metallic wire 7t, prior to bending the metal of the cover around the same; the sheet metal being bent closely down against the said wire" so as to form a ridge or bead around the outer edge of the flange 6, against which the arms of the clamps D, rest. These clamps D, consist essentially of small thumb-levers m, having a perforated boss m to receive a clamping screw m which screws into the plate a; a small interposed rubber washer m being preferably placed between the boss m, and

' the top of the Gasket.

We have shown two panels g, g. It is obvious, however, that one panel beaded at each edge may be used, if desired, in which the necessity of the central joint or seam in the panel is dispensed with.

By the construction above described if it is desired to produce caskets of diiferent sizes, it is only necessary to shorten the panels and the side rails in order to obtain different lengths; the same dies being used in each case. For caskets of diiferent widths we simply reduce the width of the flange e, as the central raised portion e, may be made of a size suitable for caskets of various diiferent widths. By the constructions thus described it will be seen that we produce a casket which is extremely simple in its construction. By

providing the beaded edges and joining the parts together, as described, we not only secure strong and rigid joints but at the same time an attractive appearance. The soldering of the seams or joints being all on the under side of the cover does not require the same care and skill as when forming joints or seams which are exposed to View. When the cover is formed with the glass portion and the auxiliary bar j, is employed, the joints in the supporting ledge 6 may be formed in the ordinary manner, as these joints or seams will all be covered by the lead frame which is soldered onto said supporting ledge and in which the glass is cemented in the usual way.

' It is obvious that the constructions herein described and shown admit of various modifications. We do not, therefore, limit ourselves to the exact constructions shown and described, but

We claim 1. A metallic casket having a top or cover formed in parts, as described, which parts are struck up so as to form raised portions and horizontal flanges, said raised portions being provided with beaded edges adapted to overlap and be connected together, so as to form concealed scams or joints, substantially as specified.

2. A top or cover for caskets consisting essentially of end pieces formed with raised portions, and a horizontal flange, side rails also formed with a similar horizontal flange and raised portions, beaded edges on said respectlve parts, and a panel or panels also provided with beaded edges adapted to be connected to said side rails and end portions, whereby the joints or seams are concealed, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with the end pieces having the horizontal flange and the raised portions, as described, and the side pieces adapted to join said end pieces, said side rails and end pieces being each provided with beaded edges adapted to overlap to form the joints between the same, and a panel or panels also provided with beaded edges adapted to overlap the beaded portions of said side rails and end pieces and be soldered or otherwise joined on the underside, whereby the seams or joints are concealed, substantially as specified.

4. A top or cover for metallic caskets con sisting essentially of the end pieces dd, side railsfif, panels g, g, and cross barj,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set ogr hands this 7th day of February, A. D. 1 93.

EDGAR N. LUPFER. CHARLES H. HISER. Witnesses:

ROBERT C. RODGERS, FRANK WATT. 

